Clarence ‘Fuzzy’ Haskins, Parliament-Funkadelic Original Member, Dies at 81

Clarence “Fuzzy” Haskins, an unique member of Parliament-Funkadelic, has died. He was 81.

P-Funk frontman/producer George Clinton introduced the singer and Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame inductee’s loss of life by means of social media on Friday (March 17). A reason behind loss of life was not offered.

“We’re saddened to announce the passing of an unique Parliament Funkadelic member Clarence Eugene ‘Fuzzy’ Haskins (born June 8, 1941-March seventeenth, 2023),” Clinton wrote on Instagram alongside images of Haskins. He added in a Fb put up, “Quit the Fuzz, Fly on.”

Former Parliament-Funkadelic member Bootsy Collins additionally paid tribute to his former bandmate on Twitter.

“Prayer’s going out to Clarence ‘Fuzzys’ Haskins household & pals. We misplaced his frequency at this time 3-17- 23,” Collins wrote on Friday. “He was an unique Parliament/Funkadelic inducted within the RHOF. We’ll miss u my good friend, bandmate & Soul brother! Thx u for ur steering in my pup yr’s. Bootsy child!!”

Born in 1941 in West Virginia, Haskins was a member of the Gel-Airs earlier than becoming a member of group initially often called the Parliaments, first fashioned within the Nineteen Sixties as a doo-wop quintet with Clinton, Calvin Simon, Grady Thomas and Ray Davis. The group that later turned often called Parliament-Funkadelic.

Haskins is credited for his contributions to P-Funk tracks like “I Bought a Factor” and “I Wanna Know If It’s Good to You,” in keeping with a put up about Haskins on Clinton’s web site.

“He was a very good drummer as properly, as he proved on ‘Can You Get to That,’ which he additionally co-wrote,” Clinton’s web site says. “A few of Fuzzy’s finest vocals appeared on Funkadelic’s 1972 LP America Eats Its Younger, most notably on ‘Ms Lucifers Love.’ However singing wasn’t the one factor that Fuzzy delivered to P-Funk. He was identified, throughout stay P-Funk exhibits, to don skin-tight bodysuits and gyrate towards the microphone pole as he whipped the gang right into a frenzy, particularly once they carried out ‘Standing on the Verge of Getting it On.’”

Haskins remained a full-time member of P-Funk by means of the late Nineteen Seventies. He launched his first solo album, A Entire Nother Thang, in 1976 by means of Westbound Data. The set featured collaborations with Bernie Worrell, Donald Austin and Collins. Haskins dropped his second solo album, Radio Energetic, in 1978.

Haskins briefly rejoined Parliament-Funkadelic for the group’s P-Funk Stay Earth Tour in 1977 earlier than leaving the group once more for good. “By this time, he claimed he was by means of with singing all of the ole soiled songs and commenced finding out the Lord’s Phrase,” Clinton’s web site says.

In 1981, Haskins joined former P-Funk members Simon, Davis and Thomas to launch the Connections & Disconnections album below the Funkadelic title, which prompted a lawsuit by Clinton. In his later years, Haskins turned a preacher and recorded gospel music.

Together with different members of Parliament-Funkadelic, Haskins was inducted by Prince into the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame in 1997.

“Funk is a power that tore the roof off the sucker that’s trendy music,” Prince mentioned of their Rock Corridor introduction.

Clinton and the opposite members of Parliament-Funkadelic obtained a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy in 2019.